LIsa Black
Cape Coral, FL
Female, 49
I spent the five happiest years of my life in a morgue. As a forensic scientist in the Cleveland coroner’s office I analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now I'm a certified latent print examiner and CSI for a police department in Florida. I also write a series of forensic suspense novels, turning the day job into fiction. My books have been translated into six languages.
Usually I'm annoyed most often by people asking for things to be done immediately while ignoring a) that we are working on more cases than just theirs, b) that some processes take time, and/or c) that what their asking for isn't going to prove anything for them anyway.
As for fellow scientists, the worst offenses are a) finding typos in my reports and b) taking the last piece of cheesecake out of the communal fridge.
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Some people don't have enough to do!
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I'm sorry but I've never worked in toxicology, so I've never tested drugs with any kind of test.
Sorry I can't help!
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Best of luck to you! Other than taking all the science and laboratory courses possible, I would suggest checking out the websites of national forensic organizations to check job postings and what different agencies require. You might also decide if you’d consider moving and where. Try to get a tour of any forensic facility you can, this is a good way to meet people and to see what different jobs entail.
I hope that helps!
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They didn’t have forensics degrees when I went to school, so learned all the forensic tasks were on the job or continuing education courses. But the science background helps with understanding lab procedures, preparing reagents, and of course explaining what’s going on during the various processes.
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I haven’t ever done an autopsy at all, since I’m not a pathologist. They can be done on animals, usually it’s called a necropsy and may be done by a veterinarian.
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Because that's not our job. That's the detective's job. They're in charge of and responsible for the investigation.
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